Delhi

Delhi, a town of about 3,000 residents in Richland Parish, is conveniently located a half-hour drive east of Monroe. Golfers eager to experience northeast Louisiana's great outdoors can tee off at the Audubon Golf Trail's Black Bear Golf Club, which ranked among GolfWeek's Best Public Golf Courses in Louisiana from 2010 through 2016.

Delhi is also home to Poverty Point Reservoir State Park. The centerpiece of this preserve just north of town is a 2,700-acre lake, filled with crappie, bluegill and channel catfish. The park is also located within the Mississippi Flyway, one of the main migration routes for birds in North America; eagle-eyed visitors can see rare and common bird species on their way to or from faraway nesting locales. Check out Poverty Point Reservoir's nature trail — where black bears are sometimes spotted — and the waterfront cabins, RV camp spots and spacious lodges that offer overnight visitors the opportunity to rest well after a day of exploring the area.